From slow starts to poor finishes, defensive collapses to shootout blanks, to giving up so many shots against and not getting enough the other way, to communication, preparation and execution issues "they are slipping out of the playoff race before it has even really begun.

They are now sixth in their division and choking on a favorable November calendar. They actually have a better road record (4-4-2) than home (4-6-2), despite the tough travel schedule that brought them to the west coast for four games.

The patience of management has worn thin and players realize that, at their present, inconsistent rate, changes will soon be made.

"Yeah, when you're not winning, that's usually the case," said defenceman Marc Methot. "You try shuffling lines, that doesn't work "¦ there's always that next step. You want to find personnel to make a competitive team. Whatever they do, that's their decision."

Does that add to the nervousness of a young team?

"It should be motivation," said Methot. "For me, for us as players, you'd like to think that's a motivating factor to get some wins back and show that we have the right group. Again, it's on us as players to do that. Management is going to do what they have to do, and we have to react accordingly and start getting some wins. Otherwise, we put them in a tough spot."

Bryan Murray doesn't sit comfortably in a tough spot. Expect that, unless there's a sudden turnaround in weekend road games against Detroit and Carolina, something is going to happen. If not before.